System and method for detachable bicycle handlebars

Abstract

System and method for detachable handlebars and fixing said handlebars onto a mount are presented. Specifically, the handlebars are independent the bicycle and mount; in some arrangements, the handlebar locking shaft may include a non-clamping connection that allows for the handlebars to attach to the bicycle quickly and easily and to prevent the handlebars from sliding, rotating, disengaging, or otherwise moving while a user is on the bicycle. The non-threaded assembly disclosed in accordance with the present invention may generally exploit several compression mechanisms to bias a series of keys into a locking position to secure the handlebars attachment to the bicycle or mount. Other embodiments are also included.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A detachable handlebar apparatus, comprising:
 a stem portion comprising:
 a hollow cylindrical receiver configured to attach to a bicycle, the receiver oriented along an axis; 
 a locking crown positioned proximal a first end of the receiver, wherein the locking crown comprises a central opening, the locking crown further comprising: 
 a receiving shaft extending away from the locking crown towards a second end of the receiver; and 
 at least one locking tooth extending outward from the locking crown substantially perpendicular to the axis; 
 
 a handlebar portion comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the handlebar portion comprises:
 a hand grip, positioned at the first end of the handlebar portion; 
 a locking shaft configured to extend from the hand grip along the axis through the stem portion, wherein the hollow cylindrical receiver is configured to receive the locking shaft; 
 a shoulder positioned proximate a locking shaft base and between the bicycle handgrip and the locking shaft, the locking shaft being rotatable about the axis; 
 at least one anti-rotation tab extending perpendicularly from the axis; 
 a first key positioned on the locking shaft; 
 at least one compressible gasket, wherein the compressible gasket is at least partially disposed around the locking shaft; and 
 a peg positioned at the second end of the handlebar portion extending perpendicular to the axis; and 
 a bushing proximate the compressible gasket, wherein the locking shaft extends through the bushing, and wherein the bushing comprises:
 a guiding slot configured to receive the peg; and 
 a second key extending perpendicular the axis. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The detachable handlebar apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a shaft collar, configured to couple to the locking crown, wherein the shaft collar comprises a key seat configured to receive both the first key and the second key. 
     
     
       3. The detachable handlebar apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the guiding slot of the handlebar portion is positioned such that a first edge proximate the second key forms an acute angle relative the axis, towards the second end of the handlebar portion and a second edge proximate the shaft collar is angled towards the first end of the handlebar portion. 
     
     
       4. The detachable handlebar apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft collar further comprises at least one locking groove, configured to engage the anti-rotation tab. 
     
     
       5. The detachable handlebar apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft collar further comprises a back plate configured to couple the handlebar portion to the shaft collar, wherein the back plate extends in an outward direction from the receiving shaft substantially perpendicular to the axis. 
     
     
       6. The detachable handlebar apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a compression spring, positioned within the shaft collar, the compression spring configured to engage the shaft collar and locking crown such that the compression spring biases the shaft collar away from the locking crown when the shaft collar is engaged with the back plate. 
     
     
       7. The detachable handlebar apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a compression spring opening that extends through the at least one locking tooth. 
     
     
       8. The detachable handlebar apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one compressible gasket is configured to have a compressed configuration and an extended configuration, and the at least one compressible gasket is positioned between the shoulder and the bushing. 
     
     
       9. The detachable handlebar apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking shaft screw that extends through the locking shaft, wherein the locking shaft screw is configured to engage the locking shaft when tightened. 
     
     
       10. The detachable handlebar apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving shaft further comprises a first receiving slot that extends along at least a portion of a length of the receiving shaft and a second receiving slot that extends along a portion of a circumference of the receiving shaft. 
     
     
       11. The detachable handlebar apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first receiving slot is configured to receive the second key and the second receiving slot is configured to receive the first key. 
     
     
       12. A method for attaching and detaching removable bicycle handlebars to a bicycle, the method comprising:
 inserting a locking shaft of a handlebar portion into a receiving shaft of a stem portion such that a first key and a second key positioned on the locking shaft pass through a key seat of a shaft collar, wherein the shaft collar is configured to couple to a locking crown that comprises at least one locking tooth and a compression spring opening; 
 biasing the shaft collar towards the locking crown such that a compression spring is compressed; 
 axially rotating the locking shaft about a first axis to align an anti-rotation ab with a locking groove within the shaft collar; 
 at least partially decompressing the compression spring such that the locking groove engages the anti-rotation tab; 
 detaching the locking shaft from the receiving shaft by biasing the locking groove portion in the shaft collar away from the anti-rotation tab and axially rotating the locking shaft about the first axis; and moving the handlebar portion along the first axis such that the locking shaft is moved out of the stem portion. 
 
     
     
       13. The method for attaching removable bicycle handlebars to a bicycle of  claim 12 , wherein axially rotating the locking shaft about the first axis includes rotating the locking shaft at least 90 degrees.